Rock eagle eggs prompt temporary shutdown of quarry operations in Telangana

In a rare and environmentally conscious move, authorities in Telangana’s Vikarabad district have ordered a month-long halt to operations at a stone quarry after an uncommon species of rock eagle was found nesting there with five eggs. The decision was taken to ensure the eggs remain safe and the bird can complete its breeding cycle without disturbance.

The incident came to light when wildlife photographers spotted the nest at Yenkatala grasslands and alerted the Forest Department. Responding swiftly, senior forest officials inspected the site and informed the quarry management about the presence of the bird and its eggs. The quarry owner, Lakshmareddy, agreed to suspend all crushing and excavation work until the chicks hatch and safely leave the nest.

District Forest Officer Gnaneshwar said photographer Vitapu Manoj Kumar first noticed the rock eagle and its clutch of five eggs during a visit six days ago. He immediately reported the sighting to Telangana’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), C. Suvarna, who instructed the local forest officials to take protective action.

Forest personnel have since been monitoring the site daily. Officials believe the eggs are likely to hatch within 15 days, after which the chicks may take another 20-25 days to fly. Until then, the area will remain undisturbed.

Manoj, who is also Joint Secretary of the Telangana Photographic Society, said he discovered the nest between a quarry slope and the ground during a birding trip on November 30. Excavation was underway at that moment, and without intervention, the eggs could have been accidentally destroyed. Quarry workers had been unaware of the nest until they were alerted.

Wildlife activists from World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) also reached out to forest officials seeking protection for the nest, after which the quarry owner voluntarily suspended operations.

The rock eagle is a large owl species measuring about 50-55 cm in length. It has dark yellow-brown plumage with black and grey markings, prominent ear-tufts that resemble horns, and striking yellow-orange eyes adapted for night hunting. Its diet includes rodents, small mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects.

Although not classified as endangered, the species is considered rare. It usually nests on the ground, between rocks, or at the base of trees, laying three to five eggs that take about a month to incubate.

In Telangana, rock eagles are mainly found in rocky landscapes, thorny scrub forests, and hilly terrains across Vikarabad, Nalgonda, Mahbubnagar, and parts of the Deccan Plateau. They are also occasionally spotted near old forts and ruins.